29. Montana
twenty-nine
Montana
Waking up to kisses is probably my favorite way to be woken up, other than when his head is between my legs. But today, it’s waking up to kisses all over my face and a smile that makes me melt. I know he is trying to distract me from being nervous about today.
Today’s the day we’re going to his parents' house, and I get to see Karissa. I’m so nervous but also very excited. I haven’t seen her since I was seven, and I wonder if she’ll recognize me. Now, I’m the woman who is dating her son. Who knew that my childhood best friend and her family came back to me without us even knowing who we are to each other.
My palms are sweating just thinking about seeing her again. I want her to like me as someone who loves Rocky, but also as the woman who I am today.
His parents finally got home from Puerto Rico a couple days ago, and we’re going today for a barbecue. Rocky told his parents he wanted to bring his girlfriend home to meet them, but not much more.
I turn the television on in the room for background noise and flip to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air . It was my favorite show to watch with my mom, so every time I watch it, I feel her presence around me. I hear her laugh synchronized with mine and her comfort next to me as we sat together.
After my shower, I sit at my vanity in my robe and start to do my makeup. After putting on a little make up I go find something to wear. What do you wear when you’re meeting your boyfriend's parents for the first time as his girlfriend? Smiling at myself in the mirror it’s a surreal feeling finally finding Karissa.
I move over to my jewelry box and grab the locket that my mom gave me for my sixteenth birthday. It’s a square book on a long chain with a picture of me and my parents on one side, and a picture of my mom and Karissa from college on the other. I layer it with my evil eye necklace.
I’m about to toss my phone in my purse and walk out the room when I get a text.
Dickface: We are not done. I can look over the fact that you were seeing someone else.
Me: Were? No, I am. Get fucked.
Dickface: We are meant to be. I’ll always be your first.
Me: gross, don’t remind me.
I groan, and Rocky, who’s tying his laces, looks up from where he’s sitting on the couch.
“What’s wrong, Killer?”
“Dylan will not stop texting me. Before, it was once in a blue moon, but now that he knows we’re together, it's become more frequent and it's annoying.”
“Montana, how long has he been texting you?”
“Umm, like once a month since after I left. I figured he would get bored since I rarely text back but since it came out that I’m with you, it's been a couple times this month already.” I roll my eyes. Not at Rocky, but the fact that Dylan has the audacity to think we’re getting back together. Taylor said it best, we are never getting back together, like ever .
“Baby, if he’s harassing you then block him.”
I wave him off and say, “He’s harmless, he’ll get bored when the next jersey chaser starts to flirt with him at a party he's at. I’m not worried. I just talk shit back or leave him on read.”
He looks at me but doesn’t say anything else about it. We grab our jackets and head down to his car. We drive the short distance to his mom and dad's house and I’m getting emotional. I know it's a surprise for his mom, but actually seeing her again after so many years is making me happy and missing my mom so much more today. For her to see me and Rocky together…I’m sure she would love it.
“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”
I sigh. “I’m nervous to see your mom and dad again. I know I’ve met them before, but this is different, you know? I’m not just Tatiana and Romeo's daughter. I’m also your girlfriend.”
“Baby, they are going to love you.”
“If you say so,” I mumble while looking out the window. “I’m excited but so nervous. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.” I look over at him and he grabs my hand and gives me that million-dollar smile.
“She’s going to cry. We can make a bet right now. She’s going to cry and then bust out all of the photo albums of her and your mom and our dads.”
I smile. “I actually cannot wait to see those pictures and some of you when you were little.”
“We baby, some when we were little too, along with my adorable self.” He grins and then clears his throat, “can I ask you something?”
“Anything.” I look at him.
“Why don’t you have pictures of you and your parents up in your house? I would have known right away if you did.”
I purse my lips and look away ashamed of my answer. “It’s still too hard to look at them every day. I still have my mom’s phone, for goodness sake, because I don’t want anyone else to have her number.”
“Look at me, Killer, I don’t understand that heartbreak, so I am not going to judge you. But, baby, when you’re ready to put them up, let me know and we’ll do it together. Okay?”
“Okay.”
We pull up to his parents’ house and it’s beautiful. It’s a two-story farmhouse style home that is white with black shutters along the windows. There are wood pillars framing the door that starts the wrap around porch. The door is breathtaking—it’s a round top maroon double door with long windows along the side of them. Two black and two white rocking chairs are on either side of the door.
There’s a garden outside the front door and it’s so magnificent. I cannot wait to have a garden like this. Roses, jasmine, lambs and elephant ears are lining the front of the house.
Rocky opens the door for me to get out of the car, takes my hand, and we walk up to the front door, where he opens it and lets me in first.
“Mom? Dad? We’re here.”
“In the kitchen, baby.”
He takes my hand and I follow behind him. When we walk in, I see an office to the left and to the right is the staircase. They even have a little Harry Potter door under the stairs. There are some photos along the walls as we are walking towards the kitchen.
As we enter the kitchen, I look over to the left and see his mom standing behind the island, cutting up some fruit. She stops what she’s doing and stares at me. Chris looks up and his eyes go wide.
“Mom, Dad. I want to introduce you to someone.”
Karissa gasps when she sees me, like she seen a ghost. “Montana? Is that really you?”
“Hi,” I say with a little wave.
“Oh my god! How? I thought you were still in Ohio,” she finally says as she rounds the island to give me a hug.
I drop Rocky's hand to give her a proper hug, but she’s holding on tight like if she were to let go, I’ll disappear. Karissa’s hug makes me feel like I’m breathing again after so long. I know she isn’t my mom, but her hug is warm and comforting. It makes me feel my mom all around me.
“You look just like her,” she whispers in my ear and squeezes me tighter.
“Ma, can you let her go? You’re going to squeeze her to death.”
She lets me go then Chris comes and gives me a hug. Once he lets go, Rocky pulls out a chair for me at the island.
Karissa is looking between Rocky and I with wide eyes.
“Wait! How did I not put two and two together? Monti, I didn’t realize you are Montana.”
I smile up at Rocky, and then look back at her. “Yeah. We met again when I moved here in June, and we’ve been dating since July.”
“I can’t believe you’ve been here this whole time. Why did you move back from Ohio?”
I wince. “That’s a long story, but basically my boyfriend cheated on me with my best friend. I found out on my birthday, so I finished my semester there and my cousin and I moved back home.” I blow out a breath I don’t realize I was holding.
“Is Talon here too?” Chris asks.
I smile. “Yeah, he came too. SBU has been looking at him to play for them for years, but he wanted to be like the big brother and came with me to Ohio. Then, when I decided to come back home, he took the offer from SBU. Coach was happy to take him.”
We all sit around the kitchen catching up. Rocky looks over at me, and I give him a smile and a nod. He’s going to talk to his parents about Johnny.
“Mom, Pops? Can I talk to you two for a moment?”
“Sure, baby, what is it?”
Here we go.